Outside life was so different to the life Liam had become accustomed to in the asylum. Liam had basically given up his night every weekday and even his weekends. At the asylum you were basically made to feel like you were in prison, and he'd been working there for so long now he basically called it home which was sick. In a twisted day, Liam preferred the dark empty halls and the damp prison like cells rather than his comfortable bed and couch at home. Liam wasn't as accepted in his family as he had been all those years ago. Ever since he was little he had a giant heart, and cared about others more than himself. He'd always knew Harry wasn't like the other kids, because Harry was always just a bit more..reserved. Growing up, Liam was the only person ever to know Harry for he really was, and he was the only person who listened and tried to understand, besides Jade.
So when Harry had been found guilty and swerved the death penalty, despite the Styles family wishes, Liam made it his job to follow Harry and become a carer because the thought of his younger brother locked away in a mental asylum to rot away nauseated him. Liam made hell a bit more liveable and basically over the last 6 months, Liam had thrown himself so much into this job Head Mistress Landles considered it unhealthy. Working at the asylum was his only escape from the life he lived outside.
In the Asylum, as much of a hell-hole it was, it offered rules, order and some stability.
Outside, life was cruel and unruly, especially to Liam who had been the kindest person all his life.
Liam had been in a long-term relationship with part time Model and professional dance Danielle, and had actually been engaged. Danielle and Liam were halfway through discussing wedding plans when Danielle got cold feet, which Liam thought was just nerves but Danielle had other plans. She claimed the relationship they had was a giant mistake and they both needed time apart. Liam had always been stable, and kind, and happy but this, this was the tipping point because the person he loved most in the world, just left him like he meant nothing. The person he dated from year 8 to year 12 and through the 2 years of university left him. 7 years for nothing. Liam had managed to channel his heartbreak and sadness into caring for Harry and tried to tell Harry to never love anyone, to which Harry had replied with
"never will I ever love anyone again,"
Ever since he had supposedly murdered Jade, the mention of love made Harry want to throw up, he had told Liam that love was like picking apples, occasionally you'll pick a good one, that's ripe and juicy, but all good things must rot and die eventually. Liam found that quite poetic and remarkably inspiring, because Harry wasn't a man of many words. Liam understood everything about Harry, only because he'd spent almost his entire life working with him and helping but there was one thing he could never understand and never will understand. Harry was fucked up, and was always either angry or sad, but Jade, she was like a torch in the darkness of Harry's mind. He genuinely laughed and smiled and loved when she was around. The amount of love Harry had for Jade was mind blowing. Jade accepted him for all his flaws and she was never dull around him either. Liam had even sat down with Harry once, when Harry discussed the idea of a proposal and the chance of starting a family. How could Harry murder someone he loved so dearly?
Liam was hesitant about Harry discussing starting a family because he knew Harry wouldn't be mentally equipt for one, and Jade knew that too, but she never told him no because she never wanted to hurt him. The truth is, after Harry had murdered Jade, Liam had been the first person he called. Liam still has nightmares about the phone call and Harry screaming and crying. Liam distinctly remembers the line
"I killed Jade, and I don't know why,"
Liam knew that Harry was sick, but he worked on helping him through his anger and outbursts, and it worked, Harry was doing so well, he seemed like he was a normal or decent person, and hadn't had an outburst in weeks, until he snapped and killed all those people. Liam had spent endless nights reading into the law trying to find a way to make sure Harry wouldn't be prosecuted, and eventually, he found the best option. He forced Harry to plead insanity, and then he swerved the death penalty and was thrown into the Asylum.
Things at the Asylum had become a bit more interesting, with all the new patients, and even Harry had perked up a little. Liam had been working with same patients for so long it felt more like a chore, rather than something he loved, and Harry was running low on people to either fuck or harass. He didn't do sloppy seconds. He believes he can only fuck a person once, and then throw them away.
Liam loved it when newbies arrived because it meant he could spent time learning about them. Louis had been the first of the newbies he'd been assigned to, and Louis was messed up. Not so much murderer insane or psychopathic, but a suicidal maniac.
The second was Zayn. Zayn was the strangest of them all, in Liam's opinion. He was a walking question mark. He had that aura about him that made people feel insecure and scared and intimidated, Zayn intimidated everyone. Liam was notably fitter than Zayn and a little taller, but Zayn was different. Zayn was dark, mysterious and he was beautiful too.
The third was Cara, a psycho who basically is handcuffed all the time, and Liam is yet to learn why.
Fourth, Sally. A woman who butchered her family.
The fifth hadn't arrived yet, but was due in a few days.
His identity was basically unknown, well Liam hadn't heard his name yet but after listening to peoples conversations he'd learnt the new boy was a victim of Extreme Anxiety and Panic Disorder. The anxiety he had sometimes has can cause him to have seizures and he can sometimes lash out and even hurt himself. Treatment never really worked for him, so he was sent here.
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Liam had been basically forced by Head Mistress Landles' new schedule to accompany Harry everywhere, since Harry's outbursts were worsening, and she didn't want another patient like Louis to feel threatened. Zayn had become an almost stranger to the halls, but Liam knew he was still here. Only because he was to bring Zayn food and water every morning and night. Zayn was still in solitary, even though the incident with Louis was a few weeks ago. Liam thought that Zayn was acting a bit different, especially since he would barely even say a sentence when Liam spoke to him, and as the days passed, Zayn's speaking had stopped almost altogether. He rarely spoke, just a couple of Hi's and Thanks. The most Liam had heard from him in the past week was a "can i use the bathroom?"
Liam had been feeling considerably worse everyday about the way he had spoken to Zayn those weeks ago, so during his extremely short breaks from Harry, he'd sit at Zayn's tall, cold door, and try and engage in conversation. It wasn't until about a day or so later until he realised why Zayn's speaking was deteriorating, not until he smelt smoke.
Liam was no stranger to the Asylum's ways of punishment and the smell of smoke was something he'd grown accustomed to, but this smoke was a lot worse. For the first time in for what seemed like ever, he broke the Asylum rules and entered solitary without permission. It was dark but Liam had a flashlight. Zayn's bed was on the furthest side of the room, hidden in the darkness. The room was so silent, you could hear a pin drop, besides heavy breathing that belonged to Zayn.
"Zayn?"
Liam stood there for a few moments, but there was no reply.
"Zayn, are you awake?" He spoke louder
His voice bounced off the walls of the dark room and echoed around him, and he had come to the conclusion Zayn was actually asleep, and well he was, until Liam walked over and flashed the light in his face. Liam tried not to drop the light when Zayn opened his eyes because Liam had never seen anyone like this in the history of his time in the Asylum. His usually caramel skin was almost 4 shades paler, his usually chocolate brown eyes were bloodshot and unfocused, his black hair matted and slightly singed. His lips were cracked and smeared in blood, his nose slightly trickling flesh blood. Zayn was slightly twitching, but didn't take his eyes off Liam. Liam had worked with similar patients but this was probably the worst electroshock therapy he'd ever witnessed.
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When group therapy had begun again, Liam was basically forced to escort Louis and Harry in one at a time, and then lastly Zayn. Liam knew the orders they sat in. Louis preferred to sit as close to the therapist as possible just in case chaos broke out, and Harry sat across from the therapist basically so he could make direct eye contact, and Zayn sat on the other side of the therapist, so Louis didn't have to really see him. Zayn was usually the joker or the jerk that'd light a smoke in the middle of discussion, but today he just stared at the ground in a daze.
The conversation was about how they were all improving and how they had improved. Harry was the first to speak, saying he'd stopped a lot of his angry outbursts and found it easier to cover his anger again. Liam felt slightly proud of his brother, the first sense of proudness in a long time. Louis said he hadn't improved much, but he was a week clean, and Zayn said
"I don't feel anything anymore,".
Liam, the therapist, and even Harry had turned to look at Zayn after that statement, and Liam knew right then and there that the treatment Zayn was receiving was too harsh and unfair. The rest of the therapy was quite boring and even Liam got bored of it, but once it was over, he went straight to Zayn and was starting to take him back to solitary and would return escort Louis and then Harry back to their rooms. Liam gripped Zayn's arms and helped him out the door as Zayn stumbled and swayed, as if he were drunk.
"Are you okay?"
Liam's voice echoes around the halls and Zayn doesn't even flinch. Zayn could barely walk so it was Liam's job to take him back to solitary.
"Zayn,"
"Mhhm,"
"Are you fucking okay?"
"Yep,"
Zayn had never felt so tired in his entire life. The days were dragging and he swore he had no sleep. The walls around him blurred and everything moved in slow motion. His mouth seemed disconnected from his thoughts, and even his thoughts were clouded and jumbled. Liam had placed him in a wheelchair and Zayn being in such a daze he doesn't realise he's passed out. Once Liam places Zayn carefully on the bed, he leaves quietly and heads straight to Mistress Landles' office, to discuss 'treatment'. Except, he's forgetting one thing. He left Louis and Harry alone.